Different meat alternatives for every vegetarian out there!

The mouth-watering juiciness of hamburgers, the overflowing flavors in a steak, the crispiness and tenderness of a fried chicken. Each and every one of us is a meat-lover and we’ve all been craving it sometimes. But we all know that too much isn’t always beneficial for us. Too much meat consumption can cause different complications to our overall health.

So, let’s say you decided to totally ditch consuming meat and change your diet to a much better and healthier option, whether choosing to eat a meat substitute or be a vegetarian, it is vital to know which foods can provide all the nutrients that a person needs, without compromising your health. In this article, you will learn about the variety of meat substitutes and their nutritional contents.

Tofu

Tofu is one of the classic meat alternatives and has been one of the best sources of protein, aside from chicken and eggs. It is a great alternative as it has a low-calorie count and contains other essential nutrients like amino acids, which a person needs for good health.

Tofu is also a very versatile and mild-flavored food that easily absorbs different aromas from different spices and marinades, which makes it easy to incorporate into any type of dish that we desire.

Seitan

Seitan has a similar texture to chicken and is an ingredient that is mostly used in mock meat products. It comes from wheat gluten and its production process involves removing the starch from the wheat, usually by rinsing it with water. This is why it is considered one of the best meat substitutes. The process leaves behind a protein-dense food. 

Spinach

Spinach is a leafy green flowering plant that originated in Persia. Its leaves can be consumed in different ways. You can eat it fresh, or after storage using preservation techniques by canning, freezing or dehydration. Featured in the famous TV show “Popeye”, spinach is known for its ability to make someone “stronger” instantly.

While it is slightly fictional, Spinach is still considered as a super food as it consists of a ton of nutrients. These include protein, iron, and different vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for our good health.

Protein-rich plant foods

Foods like beans, mushrooms, lentils and peas contain proteins and have a slightly similar texture to the meat. Food manufacturers often include this type of foods to their vegan and vegetarian products. It is known that vegetables costs cheaper than meat so not only will it help you be healthier, it will also safe you a significant amount of money.

Meat substitutes are probably the best option that you’ve got if you want to eliminate meat consumption. Not only will it help avoid cholesterols and saturated fats. It will also help you transform your diet in to a much healthier and cheaper one. Most meat substitutes are quite inexpensive compare to meat.

Whatever your reasons are for avoiding meat consumption, whether it is because you are a vegetarian or because it is part of your religious practices, it is important to know that there are a lot of foods that you can use as a substitute for meat. It does not mean that when eating healthy, your diet should also be plain, dull and flavorless. You just have to look further enough and discover different meat alternatives.